Category: Mystery

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Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax

The Unexpected Mrs. PollifaxWho among us would have the courage or craziness to visit the headquarters of the CIA and volunteer to be a spy? That’s what 63-year-old Emily Pollifax does in The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax, the first book in the 14-book series by Dorothy Gilman. Mrs. Pollifax is sent to Mexico as a courier to pick up a package at a bookstore. That goes somewhat awry. But the bookseller gives her a pack of cards and a book describing how to play numerous solitaire games. As she leaves the bookstore and gets abducted. What follows is a exciting set of events that connect her to another American spy operative and an unusual Chinese man. Both held captive with her in the Balkan country of Albania.

Since this book was written in the mid-60s, some of the political references are a bit dated (e.g., Red Chinese). But that in no way detracts from the story. Both suspenseful and humorous, this is a cute, quick read.

 

The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax
by Dorothy Gilman
© 1966
Fawcett/Random House

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Workers of Iniquity

The Workers of IniquityIn The Workers of Iniquity, C. T. Ferguson, former hacker turned P. I., needs to use his considerable skills to help a family friend. What starts as a hunt for a loan shark, morphs into something entirely more sinister. Ferguson and a few friends soon realize they need to include members of the city and county police. Even the state police.

Of the three novels I’ve read in the C. T. Ferguson series by Tom Fowler, this is the strongest so far. The Workers of Iniquity kept my interest from the first page. The pace of this novel doesn’t slack at all. It’s hard to put down. From C. T. hiring a bodyguard because he’s become a target, to getting closer to his girlfriend, Gloria, this story engages the reader. I don’t want to say too much more about the plot because I don’t want to give away spoilers. This story has a steady flow of action—even Rollins, the bodyguard, mentions that this job keeps him on his toes.

There are currently nine entries in the C. T. Ferguson series. Although there is some slight reference to previous things, that is definitely not a detriment to reading these books as one-offs. Start with this one and go back to pick up the first two. And then, on to the rest of the series in order. Ferguson decidedly does things his own way, online and off.

So, The Workers of Iniquity delights readers with action while subtly working for a cause that will become clear once you’ve read the book. Clear character development of C. T. and Gloria. Rollins, the bodyguard, and Joey, a friend who can create false identities, are somewhat less well-defined. But they are still likeable characters. And likely to continue throughout the series (I assume). So, probably more to come about those in C. T.’s orbit.

Here are my reviews of The Reluctant Detective and The Unknown Devil.

The Workers of Iniquity
by Tom Fowler
© 2018
Widening Gyre Media

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The Unknown Devil

In The Unknown Devil, by Tom Fowler, C.T. (Coningsley Trent) Ferguson—a late 20s, up-and-coming, private investigator—says he doesn’t do domestic cases. But is that really true? He hangs up on a woman who wants him to follow her husband, who she thinks is cheating. Then, a few minutes later, he agrees to find the older brother of a 17-year-old young man who shows up at his door.

His case seems straightforward until he gets a visit from a local gangster wanting him to create malware for him, which C.T. declines to do. (C.T. was a computer programmer/geek in a previous life.) Apparently, the teenager for whom C.T. is searching for was originally hired to create the malware. Wouldn’t you know, C.T. gets involved with the gangster’s affairs anyway. It becomes apparent that the teenager was kidnapped by the gangster. Can C.T. get things solved without getting shot up or even killed?

Smart Guy, But Needs Improvement

Tom Fowler’s protagonist is smart and a gourmand. He’s good, for the most part, at his chosen career—and with women. But it seems he has a knack for crossing paths with gangsters. He interacted with gangsters in his first case, too, as described in The Reluctant Detective, the first book in this series. One of the areas where C.T. needs to improve is awareness of his surroundings. People can follow him on a case without his noticing anything. He even admits this.

This novel proceeds at an interesting pace but does slow down a bit through the middle. A tiny bit too much of watching and waiting but little action. The pace then quickens again and culminates in an interesting denouement.

We learn a bit of C.T.’s likes in food and women. And whom he can trust. I think that we’ll learn more about this young, good-looking protagonist in the rest of the series. There are several additional books at this point.  I’m hooked and will continue to follow C.T.’s adventures.

The Unknown Devil
by Tom Fowler
© 2018
Widening Gyre Media

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The Reluctant Detective

The Reluctant DetectiveWhy would a guy with advanced degrees in computer science, and who had been a hacker in Hong Kong, want to be a private investigator after he got out of Chinese prison and came home? And how good would he be in his chosen profession? Such is the premise of The Reluctant Detective by Tom Fowler? And why would a guy in his late 20s or early 3os be dependent on his wealthy parents to subsidize his first case with a gift of $50,000 if he succeeded?

Coningsby Trent (CT) Ferguson is smart, but rather unmotivated as The Reluctant Detective begins its steady roll towards a denouement. But beginnings can be deceiving. CT exercises his smarts throughout the novel, even surprising his cousin, Rich Ferguson, a member of the Baltimore Police Department, with his deductions.

CT’s first case supposedly involves adultery. Alice Fisher believes her husband, Paul, is playing around. But CT soon realizes that Alice has a problem, not her husband. And it’s gambling, not adultery. Nonetheless, he sticks with the case.

Gangsters, both small time and overlords, as well as their “goons” threaten CT with harm if he steps on their toes or hurts their business. The goons are the ones who get hurt when they think CT is an easy target.

Good characterization, especially of CT. I’ll read the rest of the series, including the novella prequel, Hong Kong Dangerous.

Stay tuned for continued review of the C.T. Ferguson series and possibly other works by Tom Fowler.

ORIGINALLY POSTED: 2/20/23

REPOSTED: 8/28/26

The Reluctant Detective
by Tom Fowler
(c) 2017
Widening Gyre Media, LLC

 

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Murder at the Movies

 

Murder at the MoviesSince Alicia Malone is a host on the Turner Classic Movies channel, it seems fitting that she includes her love of movies in her debut novel, Murder at the Movies. The cover of the paperback version that I reviewed has a great drawing of the front of a classic movie theater. It is modern in feeling but draws on the best of the 1930s golden era of mysteries. Not only are there scattered references to classic movies throughout the story, but Audrey Sullivan, the protagonist, moves to a small Maine island to take over her grandmother’s theater.

Liam Ross, whom no one seems to like, is killed during the grand reopening of the Starlight Movie Palace. Audrey’s hopes of making a profit seem to fade when the police insist the theater remained closed. But, since there were only seven islanders in attendance, how long could it take to solve the murder? Right?

The novel is enjoyable. The pace moves steadily enough. Audrey Sullivan is likeable as is her friend, Mia Marallo, who owns the antique store next door to the movie theater. They become close friends in short order.

Life in a Small Town

However, all is not as it seems. The local policewoman, Nora Davis, acts like a small-town cop trying to be a big-city cop, similar to Barney Fife (played by Don Knotts) in the Andy Griffith Show. In fact, Audrey thinks Nora “looked like Margaret Hamilton as Almira Gulch in The Wizard of Oz, ready to seize some poor, unsuspecting dog.” Mia also has a less than outstanding opinion of Office Davis. “Ignore her. She thinks she’s the reason this island is so safe, but there’s literally zero crime. Mostly, she writes parking tickets for tourists who can’t read the signs.” In other words, the Davis character is stereotypical.

Then there’s Oliver Bailey, a detective, who, mysteriously, just happens to be in town. He becomes involved in detecting the crime and seems to be of higher status than Officer Davis. No reason is given for this; presumably Bailey is with the state police, although no mention is made of that.

Initially, Detective Bailey asks Audrey to keep her eyes and ears open, to talk with people and ask questions casually. However, further into the story, Audrey and Mia find Emma Ross, wife of the murdered man, unconscious in her own home. When the authorities are called in, Bailey’s “normally cheerful face hardened when he saw them.” When Office Davis introduces Mia to Bailey, she disparagingly says, “This is Mia Marallo…Audrey’s little sidekick.” Bailey’s response is, “Sherlock Holmes and Watson. Why am I not surprised?” Sorry, but you can’t have it both ways. Bailey initially asks her to be involved, even if peripherally. He then can’t be annoyed because Audrey accidentally finds the murdered man’s wife unconscious while trying to help.

More Please

Overall, I liked this cozy mystery, originally standoffish islanders and all. Audrey and Mia make a lively, but earnest, addition to the world of mystery-solving duos. I look forward to Mia playing a more decisive role. In this outing, she was present and supportive of Audrey but could have done a tiny bit more in the way of assisting in the detection of Liam Ross’s killer. Another character whom I’d love to see more of is Detective Oliver Bailey. Also, Victor Matthews was a footnote from Audrey’s past life as a publicist in Hollywood’s film industry. What will he be doing in any further additions to the Movie Palace Mystery series? Something nice and juicy, I hope.

I received a free advance uncorrected proof of this book in return for an honest review. This novel will reach bookstore shelves near you sometime in October 2026.

Murder at the Movies: A Movie Palace Mystery
by Alicia Malone
© October 2026
Running Press, an imprint of Hachette Book Group, Inc.

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The Black Echo

The Black EchoHieronymus “Harry” Bosch, an LAPD detective, makes his debut appearance in The Black Echo by Michael Connelly. Connelly’s Bosch series spawned an Amazon Prime Series, Bosch, which ran between 2014 and 2021.

In this debut novel, an anonymous phone call to 911 sets Bosch on a case involving a dead body dumped in a drainage tunnel near Mulholland Dam. The corpse’s face and tattooed shoulder seem familiar, even though Bosch can’t immediately identify how, or if, he knows the deceased. As Bosch works on the case, the Federal Bureau of Investigation suddenly becomes interested in the case. Eleanor Wish and her boss, John Rourke, become irritants to Bosch to a certain extent.

Once Bosch figures out that he knew the victim, Billy Meadows, from his time in Vietnam, the powers that be in the LAPD and FBI angle to get him off the case. The more the “suits” wanted him away from the case, the more determined he was to continue, regardless of what could happen to his career. Interestingly, the perpetrator of the crime seemed to stay one step ahead. How? Why? Is there a leak or mole in the LAPD or FBI?

Although rule-bending and tenacious, Bosch is likeable as a character. He cares about the victims of the crimes which he’s investigating. He’s an avid coffee drinker, and lives alone. Although this is the first of Connelly’s Bosch novels that I’ve read, I get the impression that he closely interacts with the women in his cases.

Although thoroughly enjoyable, The Black Echo seemed to slow down at times. A little more copyediting may have tightened it up to be more smooth running. On the other hand, it has power and the ring of truth. Overall, an entertaining outing in the Los Angeles area.

The Black Echo
by Michael Connelly
© 1992
Little, Brown & Company

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Sherlock Holmes and the Deathly Clairvoyant

Sherlock Holmes and the Deadly ClairvoyantFor lovers of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson, such as I, Margaret Walsh’s Sherlock Holmes and the Deathly Clairvoyant is sure to please. In addition to the famous duo, other characters from the Conan Doyle canon take the stage. We again meet Inspector Lestrade, Mycroft Holmes, Mrs. Hudson, and Wiggins, the inimitable head of the Baker Street Irregulars.

In this engaging mystery, Kitty Pappwell, the niece of Amaryllis Winterbottom, comes to Baker Street to hire Holmes. Her aunt had died at home under what seemed like unusual circumstances. The police ruled the aunt’s death as a suicide by the police, who would not listen to the reasons Ms. Pappwell offered that it was murder, such as the fact that the aunt had made a date to go out with Ms. Pappwell for the day after her death. Thus, it seemed odd that she would commit suicide after making plans.

Mysterious Deaths

Holmes and Watson soon learn from acquaintances that others had died in a similar mysterious fashion. All those who died had one thing in common: they had attended a séance run by Eileen and Edgar Loxcroft. This sister and brother team ran séances for moderately wealthy middle-class Londoners. Why was the Messenger of Death heard at some séances, followed by the death of one of the attendees?

Holmes and Watson dug deeper and hunted up answers to their questions: The victims had been poisoned, but that no cup or glass was found near any of the victims. Plus, all the victims were missing a piece of moderately expensive jewelry. Holmes and Watson query their acquaintances and find that the Loxcroft siblings are frowned upon among other mediums.

How could Holmes and Watson attend a séance undetected? By sending Mrs. Hudson as a lure to draw out the murderer. To keep Mrs. Hudson safe, a whole group of people surround her. She is installed into a safe house owned by Mycroft Holmes. Even Wiggins and his confederates are recruited to watch the safe house and make note of any visitors, etcetera.

Holmes, Watson and their associates’ method for catch the villains makes for an interesting read. Holmes, Watson, Mrs. Hudson, and the others are well drawn and believable. In addition, Sherlock Holmes and the Deathly Clairvoyant moves at a comfortable, steady pace and comes to a satisfactory conclusion. I look forward to possibly reading other works by Margaret Walsh.

Sherlock Holmes and the Deathly Clairvoyant
by Margaret Walsh
© 2025
MX Publishing

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Dance Noir

In Dance Noir: The Latin Beauty, Tom Riggins brings the 1930s to life. Under his skillful pen, Sacramento, California, comes alive with speakeasies, dancing, and life lived on a boat docked under a bridge. There’s also Selena, a beautiful woman caught in a tough situation. Did she kill her husband as the police suspect? Can she be helped by Nick Gazelle, an aging former cop turned private investigator?

Riggins takes on gangsters and a mob-style killing with a very slight potential to start a gang war between Victor Reyes’ Sacramento gang and Juanita “the Duchess” Spinelli, who heads a mob in San Francisco. But is that true? Or is it an internal argument between Victor and his son, Luis?

I enjoyed this novella about Nick Gazelle. But I would have liked to see more tension between the rival gangs and more backstory about Nick Gazelle. Details about Gazelle and the other gang were somewhat sparse. It seems the other gang was mentioned only to create some slight tension in the story. Otherwise, tension within this novella was minimal.

Gazelle had moved out of his apartment and on to a somewhat rundown boat in the harbor. He also had closed his office, keeping just the office door. Why? The reader can assume it was for cost-cutting purposes, but is that true?

I guess I wish this novella had been worked on and expanded into even a short novel before being released. However, I look forward to any further recordings of his cases and adventures. I hope his favorite waitress (and girlfriend) Vera, comes along for the ride in an expanded role.

Dance Noir: The Latin Beauty
by Tom Riggins
(c) 2025

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The Case of the Man Who Died Twice

The Man Who Died TwiceKen Courtenay’s The Case of the Man Who Died Twice: A Sherlock Holmes Adventure seizes the reader’s attention and does not let go. This novel’s pace and plot lure the reader into a London filled with misadventure and arrogance.

A man declaring his innocence hangs for a murder. Eighteen months later, the man supposedly murdered comes back to London from a business trip to America. And gets murdered for real.

Tobias Gregson, Scotland Yard Inspector, calls on Holmes and Watson to help untangle this case. More murders and suicides follow, even involving murders Inspector Lestrade is investigating. Although Holmes and Watson relentlessly follow clues, they fear they will not solve the case before others are murdered. The twists and turns of the case draw the reader in, but well-placed clues give subtle hints as to who might be the mastermind.

Courtenay’s Holmes, Watson, and Gregson stand up well compared to the original characters drawn by Conan Doyle. They have the same quick wits and moral code as Doyle’s originals. The detective duo spring in and out of cabs and briskly stride along London’s foggy streets, as always. Inspectors Gregson and Lestrade and Mrs. Hudson are willing subordinates, as in days gone by. Gregson and Lestrade know they will receive top-notch assistance. Mrs. Hudson is long-suffering and the bearer of hearty victuals for Holmes, Watson, and the others.

Relatable Themes

This novel’s themes resonate with today’s political climate in the United States. In an understated, subtle, and even-handed way, Courtenay spotlights greed and murder. He also highlights the attitude some people have that they will get away with anything, including murder, because of who they are, their standing in the community, and their race.

Based on this work, I will check out the author’s other works. I hope Mr. Courtenay continues to offer additional cases that Inspectors Gregson and Lestrade can use to entice Holmes and Watson into action.

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Sherlock Holmes Takes the Case

Sherlock Holmes Takes the CaseFrom London to England’s Lake District to Edinburgh, Scotland, Sherlock Holmes and his reliable companion, Dr. John Watson, are always ready to solve the case. In David MacGregor’s Sherlock Holmes Takes the Case: Eight Tales of Mystery and Intrigue, the detecting duo travels great lengths in search of intrigue and crime. For example, they research a case of tiny coffins found on Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh in “The Adventure of the Scottish Coffins.” They uncover fraud in “The Amateur Mendicant Society.” Mudlarking in the Thames in London dirties Holmes’ boots in one of the stories. They uncover how an ancient Egyptian scroll went missing in “The Adventure of the Alexandrian Scroll.” And Holmes diverts attention by suggesting multiple solutions in a stabbing in “Death at Simpson’s.”

Clever and Entertaining Stories

Each story is cleverly written and tightly plotted. Holmes and Watson are at the peak of their form in each story. MacGregor captures the flavor of the original Conan Doyle detective duo. The hustle and bustle of London is as much a part of the scene as is the Lake District village of Grasmere. MacGregor expertly distinguishes between the “steam-hammer metronome” that is London and the bucolic “gentle peaks” and “burbling waters” around Grasmere. In a couple of stories, Holmes allows a different kind of justice to be done.  “Justice is not the sole province of bewigged old men in courtrooms. Justice belongs to us all.” Conan Doyle implied the same sentiment in a few of his stories. The last story has the duo up on the rooftop trying to apprehend a jolly old, gift-giving phenomenon. One who is aided by a red-nosed hooved creature. Sorry Holmes, it’s not Moriarty.

So, look to be entertained with the stories in this collection. “Death of a Mudlark” and “The Adventure of the Mysterious Benefactor” enchanted me. Which favorites will you choose?

Sherlock Holmes Takes the Case: Eight Tales of Mystery and Intrigue
by David MacGregor
edited by David Marcum
© 2025
MX Publishing